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University of Alberta
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Employee of the University of Alberta operating a recycling machine
Chosen as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2013:
By Richard Yerema and Julien Gagnier, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors
(Apr 21, 2013)
Some of the reasons why University of Alberta was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2013):
- maintains an "Office of Sustainability" to oversee and create awareness about the university's many environmental initiatives -- recently launched the "ecoREP" program to reach out to employees, faculty and students to become sustainability champions across the University
- supports a unique sustainability fund that is financed through savings generated by projects from the university's energy management program (with awards ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 per project) -- recent initiatives include the integration of power strips and drying racks into every room of its Saint-Jean residence, and developing virtual dashboards that will provide real-time feedback on energy and water use in the laboratories of its Chemical and Materials Engineering Building
- the Office of Sustainability also manages a "Green Grant" program in support of projects that lead towards greater sustainability on the campus (with awards up to $2,000 per project) -- past projects have ranged from bicycle repair clinics to paper reduction campaigns to social media contests
- in partnership with the Residence Services and the Facilities and Operations departments, the Office of Sustainability implemented its first "Eco Move Out" in April of 2012, which gives departing students the opportunity to reduce waste by donating or recycling their electronics, non-perishable food items, personal care products, and clothing and household items -- over 6,500 pounds of goods were either donated or recycled as a result of the initiative
- from an energy management plan that was first established in the 1970s, the University has recently developed its "Next Generation Energy Management Program" that includes numerous initiatives to be implemented over the next seven years, with anticipated carbon dioxide emissions reduced by an estimated 30,000 tonnes upon completion (and savings of approximately $3.8 million every year)
- has recently implemented a policy to ensure that all major renovations and all new provincially-funded campus buildings must be built to at least a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification standard -- and recently achieved the prestigious LEED Gold-certification for its Triffo Hall building renovation with five other campus facilities currently pursuing LEED Silver certifications
- maintains a two-acre community garden, a joint project of the School of Public Health and the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences entirely run by volunteers, that raises funds for a non-profit organization that supports marginalized women in Rwanda -- impressively, the garden raised approximately $17,000 in donations last summer
- the University is the first post-secondary institution to partner with the new "One Simple Act on Campus" initiative that encourages employees, faculty and students to commit to undertaking one of 20 possible actions related to waste reduction, energy efficiency, sustainable living or water management
Background Information
Major Canadian hiring locations: Edmonton AB, Calgary AB, Camrose AB.
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| ©2013 Mediacorp Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Used by Eluta with permission. For comments or questions on this employer review, please contact Mediacorp's editorial team.
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